PRAYER MATTERS
Psalm 34.18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Hebrews 13.2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
As simple as saying her name.
A young woman felt alone. Her marriage was broken, her parents passed away. Friends busy with their children’s full schedules. A job where she worked primarily from home. The woman had connections, but felt isolated. She was hungry for community, for family. She wanted to be seen.
One Sunday morning on a walk in her neighborhood, she heard music coming from a church. She walked in and was greeted with a smile, handed a flyer and shown into a large room. The room was full of people singing. The atmosphere felt warm. Someone said hello and asked if she wanted to go to an available seat. She chose to be towards the back so she could soak it all in, closing her eyes and listening to the music, to the speaker, to the Scripture being read.
As she left, a few people waved and smiled. This young woman felt something inside of her shift. She came back the next week and was greeted once again as she entered the door. This person asked her name and chatted for a bit. She made her way into the sanctuary and once again felt a peacefulness she hadn’t experienced in a very long time.
The next week, she was up early, excited to get back to the church. She walked in, now knowing her way a bit better, and was instantly greeted by people she had met previously. One said her name. Tears sprung to her eyes. She was seen! She sat down in the pew and was handed a flyer – that person, calling her by name (again!) asked how her project at work had gone the past week. She was remembered; her feelings of isolation replaced with these connections.
We are grateful to be a part of a church community that sees people. Thank you for making Grace a welcoming place. And thank you for praying. Lives are being changed because God’s love!
Ericka
Psalm 34.18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Hebrews 13.2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
As simple as saying her name.
A young woman felt alone. Her marriage was broken, her parents passed away. Friends busy with their children’s full schedules. A job where she worked primarily from home. The woman had connections, but felt isolated. She was hungry for community, for family. She wanted to be seen.
One Sunday morning on a walk in her neighborhood, she heard music coming from a church. She walked in and was greeted with a smile, handed a flyer and shown into a large room. The room was full of people singing. The atmosphere felt warm. Someone said hello and asked if she wanted to go to an available seat. She chose to be towards the back so she could soak it all in, closing her eyes and listening to the music, to the speaker, to the Scripture being read.
As she left, a few people waved and smiled. This young woman felt something inside of her shift. She came back the next week and was greeted once again as she entered the door. This person asked her name and chatted for a bit. She made her way into the sanctuary and once again felt a peacefulness she hadn’t experienced in a very long time.
The next week, she was up early, excited to get back to the church. She walked in, now knowing her way a bit better, and was instantly greeted by people she had met previously. One said her name. Tears sprung to her eyes. She was seen! She sat down in the pew and was handed a flyer – that person, calling her by name (again!) asked how her project at work had gone the past week. She was remembered; her feelings of isolation replaced with these connections.
We are grateful to be a part of a church community that sees people. Thank you for making Grace a welcoming place. And thank you for praying. Lives are being changed because God’s love!
Ericka
from the week of December 1
Praises
- Praise God, B has support, is starting a men’s study in his city, and has had an increase in sales of a new product supporting his ministry. God is good!
- I am thankful for Janet’s Advent devotional, also for the Mission ministry prayer guide and the overall wonderful Grace Alive magazine.
- We are so grateful for beautiful friends who also love the Lord.
- We God at work in our lives through our generous neighbors who show Jesus’ love to us.
- Praise Jesus for B’s successful surgery and recovery.
- The dark will never cover the light. The LORD of Lords and KING of Kings reigns!
- G’s blessing of continued healing of his back pain.
- I am thankful for KL who goes out of her way to love those around her. She is selfless and joy-filled.
- Praise the Lord for the opportunity to connect with friends, both old and new.
- Glory be to God both now and evermore! Amen
- Let’s praise God for the blessing of His Son, Jesus.
- Thankful for all who helped decorate the church for Christmas, it looks beautiful!
- So grateful for the beauty of the season, so present throughout our church building. Thank you to all who make this happen!
- Thank You, Lord, for sweet memories of Christmas past and the assurance of life eternal.
- My heart is full of gratitude for my children that I care for and raise. We had a great five-day Thanksgiving holiday.
- Thankful for a wonderful holiday. Lord, help us to remember to be grateful all year round.
- Thank You, Jesus, for Your healing hands.
- Lord, thank You for all You do and are.
- I love my church!
- Praise His Holy Name!
Prayers
- Comfort for the family of Gordon Leavitt who passed away recently.
- Please pray healing for G and family.
- God’s healing, hope, and strength for D who is in rehab and fighting addiction. He has tremendous family support and he wants healing. Lord, have mercy and bless this man in his journey for healing.
- Comfort for S who is traveling to CA to be with her dying sibling. Lord, provide Your comfort.
- K is praying for good test results for esophagus.
- Praying for those who suffer religious persecution and all who are in war torn areas. Praying for peace!
- Praying for those living in the shadows in fear and isolation. Let our leaders know their value and worth. That we are ALL children of God.
- God’s healing for S who is exhausted with covid, for family caring for one another and that their energy be restored.
- We need guidance and strength to manage our multiple challenges.
- Continued prayers for full healing for D, B, and B – all recovering from knee surgeries.
- Prayers T gets answers and healing for very painful back and hip issues.
- Prayers for T to get a surgery date, for his pain to diminish, and for God’s healing.
- For some the holidays can be difficult and painful. Help us, Lord, to reach out to those who are hurting so we can share Your love.
- Our daughter is in hospital, please pray for her healing.
- Please pray for K’s sister J who has stage 4 colon cancer. Thank you.
- Please lift me up in prayer as I open the conversation about memory loss with my mother.
- Prayers for K who is in the hospital.
- Praying for M’s spiritual journey and for her faith in Jesus to strengthen.
- Pray for G’s PET scan to show no more cancer.
- Continued prayers for our local and national leaders – that they will each value mercy and compassion in their leadership.
- Lord, be with my Aunt I – my Uncle S passed away from cancer. God, let me be Your beacon of light to all.
- Praying my family will be healthy and all on God’s path, walking with Jesus in their hearts.
- Prayers for F’s friends and family.
- Lord, strengthen S’s knees and hips, heal her physically, emotionally, and physically.
- We need guidance and strength to manage our multiple challenges.
- Continued prayers for full healing for D, B, and B – all recovering from knee surgeries.
- I need strength to perseverance in patience, compassion, gentle kindness and humility. May Jesus’ light increases in me to His glory.
- Prayers for A on her travels in Cambodia.
- C is exhausted and is in need of restored energy as she is the primary caregiver for a family member.
- Lord, we ask for Your healing and comfort for J’s father and family during this difficult, emotional time. Bring peace, Holy Spirit.
- I ask for prayer for unity in my family to love and forgive one another.
- Praying for my son who is making wrong decisions and not looking for God’s help. I hope his heart changes.
- God, give me more understanding why things are.
- Prayers, please, for our grandson whose Grandma died on Thanksgiving. He needs God’s comfort.
- Please pray for G to be able to stand (post stroke) by 12/8 as it determines his future care.
- Pray complete healing for A after a recent surgery.
- Prayer for SO for a complete diagnosis and healing.
- May our church family be drawn closer to You, Lord amidst this Advent season. Your name is above ALL names!
- Father God, comfort those in need.
- Continued prayers for J’s health.
- Prayers for P and family to have a safe trip to see doctor in Seattle.
- Praying for T.
- Pray for our leaders here at Grace.
- Thankful for all the preschool children that brought special blessings to our Thanksgiving.
- Praying J will get a job.
- Please pray for T’s family – C, L, E, T, and B.
- Prayers for L’s healing and prayers to be answered so LR knows what is wrong.
- Prayer request for our friends who just had a funeral for their 47 year old son. Bring healing and hope, Lord Jesus.
- Praying for my family, my staff, and myself.
- Father God, please be with my husband K as he deals with medical issues.
- Pray for L who needs God’s healing and comfort during health issues.
- Pray for safe travels for those traveling this holiday season.
- God’s protection and provision for K, M and soon to be born baby D. It would be a blessing for them to find a church family in their country. God’s will be done!
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR OUR CHURCH AND CAMP STAFF:
STAFF: (Pastor) Gregory Wagenfuhr; (Family & Children’s Ministry) Sarah Huck; (Student Ministries) Kara Brown and Jahzeel Garcia-Figueroa; (Preschool Director) Becca Mailand; (Preschool Teachers) Amber Miller and Amiya Aparicio; (Childcare) Gracie Miller, Maddie Miller, Jennifer Brice, Grace Johnson, and Christina Cole; (Media/IT) Deb Meyers; (Business Manager) Tammy Nunley; (Building/Grounds/Custodial) Dan Barela, John Yolo, Stephen Dalton, Monte Schilperoort, and Ryan Albertson; (Administrative Assistant) Ericka Clark; (Worship Leaders) Jason Wickson, Nathan Gross, and Anne Schilperoort; (Intern Director) Larissa Belknap; (Interns) Linda Camarillo, Alexandria Moran, Belen Damian-Vasquez, Eli Westfall, and Jasmine Barriga.
GHORMLEY STAFF: Joel Whitehead, Richard and Kim Hayland, Mark James, Anneliese Eastridge, David Killings, Taylor Miller, Jeff Sansburn, Elliot Daly, and Kaden Schmidt.
CAMP GHORMLEY BOARD: Jeff Arkills, Mark Baldwin, Rob Culp, Tony Klein, Liberty McLean, Suzanne Marinace, Amae Merrill, Jeff Scott, and Joel Whitehead.
STAFF: (Pastor) Gregory Wagenfuhr; (Family & Children’s Ministry) Sarah Huck; (Student Ministries) Kara Brown and Jahzeel Garcia-Figueroa; (Preschool Director) Becca Mailand; (Preschool Teachers) Amber Miller and Amiya Aparicio; (Childcare) Gracie Miller, Maddie Miller, Jennifer Brice, Grace Johnson, and Christina Cole; (Media/IT) Deb Meyers; (Business Manager) Tammy Nunley; (Building/Grounds/Custodial) Dan Barela, John Yolo, Stephen Dalton, Monte Schilperoort, and Ryan Albertson; (Administrative Assistant) Ericka Clark; (Worship Leaders) Jason Wickson, Nathan Gross, and Anne Schilperoort; (Intern Director) Larissa Belknap; (Interns) Linda Camarillo, Alexandria Moran, Belen Damian-Vasquez, Eli Westfall, and Jasmine Barriga.
GHORMLEY STAFF: Joel Whitehead, Richard and Kim Hayland, Mark James, Anneliese Eastridge, David Killings, Taylor Miller, Jeff Sansburn, Elliot Daly, and Kaden Schmidt.
CAMP GHORMLEY BOARD: Jeff Arkills, Mark Baldwin, Rob Culp, Tony Klein, Liberty McLean, Suzanne Marinace, Amae Merrill, Jeff Scott, and Joel Whitehead.
1 Corinthians 15.57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”